Protective switch-box.



T. E. MURRAY. PROTECTIVE SWITCH BOX. APPLICATION FILED 00T.21,1913.

Patented Oct. 27,1914.

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' 1 Y ammo whom J5 g @lbhozne W THOMAS E. MURRAY, F-NEW- 'YORK,N.-Y.'

PROTECTIVE swrron-isox.

Specification ofjLetters Patent. Pate ted O t 27 1914;

Application filed October 21,1913. Serial No. 796,423.

To all-whom it may concern: a

'Be'it known that I, THOMAS E. MURRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented a certain new and useful -'Im'provement in Protective Switch-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention'is a protective switch box, so" constructed that the opening of a com= partment in order to obtain access to circuit connections therein actuates a switch inaccessibly inclosed in a second compartment to break circuit in said connections.

In'the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a' longitudinal section of my protective switch box on the line 1, 1 of Fig. 2, showing position of parts when the circuit isclosed and the sliding cover shut. Fig. 2 is a top view under similar conditions, a part of the cover being broken away. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation and partial section on line 3, 3 of Fig. 2.

Similar numbers and letters of reference indicate like parts.

The box A is preferably of sheet metal and is divided into'two compartments B, C,

. by the transverse partition D. In compartment B and on the bottom of the box 1s secured a base block E of insulating material having on its upper side three channels, in each of which is'a pair of spring contact clips F, G which receive the fuse, plugs H. Each plug H comprises a body portion and a thin upwardly projecting plate. The fuse -strip I is bent over the upper edge of the thin late and extends over both sides of the body portion, so that when said plug is inserted between the contact clips, circuit is established through said strip; Any other fuse plug may be used which will'close circuit between the clips in like manner, and the three plugs disposed in the three pair of clips may be all alike. Similar members G of each pair of clips are respectively connected to circuit leads J which pass out of the box through a threaded tube K, secured in an end wall of said box in any suitable wa 1 h compartment C there is a plate L of insulating material secured to partition D. Said plate carries three pair of horizontally disposed contact clips M, to which are connected insulated wires N which after passing through partition D and plate L are respectively secured to members F of the clips F,

G. On the lower portion of the plate L are three brackets O, on which are pivoted switch bars P which cooperate with the clips M. Said brackets are connected to circuit leads Q which through a tube R.

' The tube R is mounted in a plate'VV which is provided with ways X which receive the'edges of a vertical recess in the end wall of the box, so that said plate may be removed from the recess.

The switch bars P are connected at their upper ends in any suitable way to a cross bar S of insulating material, and said bar at its ends is pivoted in the slots T in arms U, which arms are preferably formed integra'l with the sliding cover plate V. The side flanges of said plate lap over the upper edges of the side walls of the box. The arms U which are parallel to said flanges do not lap over said edges but extend downwardly within thebox.

pass out of the box The sliding cover plate V rests uponrtlie upper edges of the box and is movable longitudinally under the overlapping cover plates 4, 5 which are disposed at opposite ends of the box. Plate 4 is fixed permanently in place. On the end flanges of plate 5 are bent tongues 6. Fig. 3, which are inserted in slots in the end wall of the box.

A lug 7 on one of the side flanges of plate registers with a fixed lug 8 on the outside of the box. The shackle of a seal fastening 9, Fig. 2, is inserted through openings in;

said lugs. Cover plate 5 being thus locked in place by tongues 6, seal fastening 9'inturn locks slide W in its recess in-the box wan.

wvVit-hin the box and on one of the side walls thereof is'secured a bracket 10, in

which isa*fixed rod 11. At one end of the The normal condition of-ithe device is as shown in Fig.1; The sliding cover plate -V then" closes the opening between the cover plates 4, 5 and prevents access to the fuse.

carriers and connections in compartment B.

and also through its slotted arm U moves the, switch bars P into the contact clips M, thus closing circuit from leads Q through said bars and clips, to wires N, fuses H and leads J. The spring 14 is now compressed by yoke 15, but is prevented from throwing back cover plate V by the button 17 which enters an opening in cover plate 4, the button and its supporting spring 16 thus formplate V to the position ofFig. 3, the switch 7 bars P are removedv from clips M, and the circuit is thus broken. Thebox now being open, thefuse plugs H may be reached for adjustment or removal, as may be desired. When the covenplate'V is returned to its closed position, the button 17 runs under an indentation 19 in the edge of plate 4, said indentation having an. inclined surface so; that the button is gradually depressed before it reachesthe opening in plate 4 and by its spring-16 is thrown into said opening. Whenthe cover plate V is in closed position, two plates 21-, 22 secured on its upper side lap over the plate 4, thus preventing the insertion of a blade under said plate for the purpose of raising the same to obtain proper access to compartment B.v It will be observed that access cannot be had to compartment B at any time, unless the seal fastening firstbe destroyed, so that the switch is thus inaccessibly inclosed. When the cover plate V is inclosedposition, the circuit is established'and access cannot be had to either compartment B or C. When the cover plate is moved to open compartment B, the circuit is, at the same time, broken in compartment Hence the fuses andexposed connectlons 1n compartment B are dead and can be safely handled, and, of

said exposed connections. lhere is no wa of establishing circuit while compartment is openedsince no access can be had to compartment C. I claim:

. 1. A protective connection box divided, into two compartments, a swltch inclosed in one of said compartments, a sliding cover for.

opening and closing the other compartment,

a retracting spring for said cover,a latch for holding said cover in closed osition, and

means actuated by said cover or operating said switch.

.2. A protective connection box divided opposite ends ofsaid box, a sliding cover between said fixed covers andthe walls of said box, closing the opening between said fixed covers andretractable into one of said compartments, circuit connections extending through said. compartments, and a switch interposed in said connections, located in course, it is impossible to steal current from i 'into two compartments, two fixed covers 4 separated from one another and disposed at the compartment receiving the retracted Z cover, connected to said cover and moved by said cover to, open circuit upon the retrac tion of said cover. a o

' 3. .A protective connection box divided into two compartments,,. two fixed covers separated. from one anotheriand disposed at opposite ends of said box, a sliding cover between said fixed covers andthe walls of said box, closing the opening between saidfixed covers and retractable into one of said compartments, circuit. connections extending through said. compartments, a retracting spring for said cover, a latch on said cover engaging in an opening in one of said fixed covers, and a switch interposed insaidi connections, located in the compartment receiving the-retracted cover, connected to said cover and moved by said cover to open circuit. upon the retraction of said cover.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. 1 r THO RAY. Witnesses: GnR'rRnnn '1. PORTER,

MAY '1. McG-Anan 

